The Emergency Services Collaboration Working Group has today (Tuesday 11th November) published an overview report that gives the most accurate picture yet of the current collaborative projects between bluelight services in England and Wales.

The working group, which includes senior leaders from all the emergency services, has published the report compiled and produced by central Government which provides a detailed overview of the most significant collaboration projects between emergency services in 2014.

The working group was formed in September this year with funding from three Government departments in order to support and drive closer working between the emergency services and as a means to share best practice among services and their governing authorities.

This overview report, called ‘Emergency Services Collaboration – The Current Picture’, will provide a baseline for the working group to commission research into those areas of collaboration that appear to provide the potential for improving services.

The research will provide a firm evidence base for those services wishing to pursue their own transformational projects and for future policy development.

David Lloyd, who represents the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) on the group and whose office oversees the working group, said: “This excellent report gives a thorough national picture of the collaboration projects that exist between the emergency services today.

“There are many innovative schemes included in the report which show how the blue light services can work successfully together in order to improve the services they provide to the public while ensuring value for the taxpayers’ pound.

“I am particularly pleased to see the myriad of different ways police forces up and down the country are working closely with their partner organisations to meet the challenging financial environment they find themselves in.

“By reporting on and sharing the details of these projects, we can learn how similar schemes can benefit similar organisations in different parts of the UK.”

Peter Dartford, President of the Chief Fire Officers Association and a member of the group, added: “Emergency services have a very strong track record of collaboration and innovative partnership working and this report highlights just some of that.

“The Emergency Services Collaboration Working Group will now look at how we can facilitate further transformation, and build on our existing success to meet the further challenges that await us.”

The working group itself was established with support from the Department of Health, the DCLG and the Home Office to provide strategic leadership, coordination and overview on a national level to improve emergency service collaboration.

The working group comprises of senior leaders from across the emergency services and will act as a national driver for innovation and best practice.